Story Synopsis:
The tale of a demon child and her life together with her mother and mentor. Fay was born a demon, but was raised as a human. Even so, what would the people think of her?
The tale of the young, spirited girl in a village of festivities. Born into the world beneath a full moon, Luna led a carefree life, always smiling and cheerful. But how long will that last?
This is the story of their lives before they met, and how they came to be.
Chapter 1:
Spoiler! :
364 - Spring
Fay was born with red eyes. The hair on her head was pure white, making her stand out among the rest of the village children. Fay was a little different, but no one thought anymore than that.
However when Fay was five years old, her ears grew longer and her teeth lengthened like fangs. Fay was not a human child, but a demon. Humans and demons did not get along well, and in most places strife between the two races are not uncommon.
Fay's mother was called Noa. Even though Fay was born a demon, Noa still loved her as her daughter. Fay never knew her father, for he died a few months before she was born from an illness.
Fearing a drastic reaction from the villagers upon discovering Fay's true nature, Noa decided to leave the village and seek a new place to live in, one that would at least tolerate Fay's existence.
It was a silent farewell. Noa brought along whatever she could carry and together with Fay, they left their old house at the break of dawn.
Sometimes, they would travel on foot. Other times they would be lucky enough to find a carriage. Noa made sure to hide Fay's ears under a hooded cloak, but none of the coachmen cared enough to even check.
Noa had led a frugal and simple life, and never needed to spend any money on clothing as long as she had a bit of fabric and her sewing needle. But her savings had began dwindling long ago, and all she had left was a small portion of it.
Several days passed before Noa and Fay arrived in a small, secluded village. Noa had heard rumors that before the war, humans and demons managed to coexist in certain villages.
Secluded and uncommon, but they existed. This was one of them, and as Noa approached one of the villagers at the outskirts of the village, she hoped that the custom had not been broken. As long as they could stay, Noa did not mind even if they had to live in an abandoned house.
“We do have a place just like that, but...”
The middle-aged farmer scratched the back of his head, glancing at the child in the mother's arms. His eyes narrowed as he noticed her strange appearance, turning back to Noa in uncertainty. The child looked no more than five years old, but there was no mistaking the demonic traits she had. But under those traits was a face showing signs of prolonged fatigue.
Sensing the farmer's uncertainty, Noa took a deep breath and mustered her courage.
“My daughter is a demon.”
In order to live together with as little problems as possible, Noa had decided against hiding the truth. Of all the places they have passed through, none of them would accept a demon living amongst them. In some cases, they were chased out without hesitation.
Many years ago, a war broke out between the humanoids and demons. The humanoids prevailed in the end, but many were left bitter with the deaths of their loved ones and families. Along with the growing bitterness in their hearts, their unwillingness to co-exist with their past invaders grew as well. In time, demons gradually disappeared into hiding, even the harmless ones.
Demons were no longer hunted, but neither were they accepted into normal society.
The farmer remained silent. He had guessed Fay's true nature when he saw her, but Noa's words confirmed his suspicions.
Noa waited patiently for the farmer to speak. If they were denied entrance, they would once again have depart. However Fay was already tired out from their nomadic lifestyle, with Noa's savings dwindling with each departure. She was unsure of how long they would last.
When the farmer finally opened his mouth to speak, Noa braced herself for the inevitable.
“Please wait a moment. Stay around here, but do not enter.”
The farmer turned away from Noa and ran into the village.
Noa, who expected the farmer to say no, stood surprised. He did not agree, but he did not decline either. As long as there was a chance, she would not give up hope.
With Fay asleep in Noa's arms, she paced around the outskirts of the village until the farmer returned moments later.
“The elder wants to see you. Follow me.”
Noa had expected this. As she followed the farmer into the village, she prayed that the elder would be understanding.
*
Noa was in the village elder's house. She sat on a cushion placed on the carpeted floor, with Fay still fast asleep in her lap. Other than the elder and a handful of villagers with them, Noa was surprised there were no armed guards in the room. Holding Fay firmly in her arms, Noa waited for the elder to speak.
“I have heard you are seeking residence in our village, yes?”
“Yes, elder.”
Ever since the war ravaged our village, we have not seen a single demon. Until you came along.”
Noa felt a twinge of despair. She had thought a village that once accepted demons might do the same even after the war. But if what the elder said was true, then that was not the case. Moreover, if they had been attacked before...
“We enjoy peace, and dislike trouble. We will not shun you away, but you are not exactly welcome here either. If it were only you, however...”
Noa's lips trembled as she began to speak. She had heard this many times before, to abandon her daughter or dispose of her to be granted entry, to which her reply was always the same.
“My daughter is everything to me. I will not leave her.”
“Your daughter is a demon.”
“......”
There was nothing Noa could say. Fay was a demon, she could not deny that.
“My daughter may be a demon... But she has never harmed anyon in her life.”
The elder sighed.
“Hana, what do you think?”
A young woman stood up from the corner of the room house. The moment she took a step forwards, Noa let out a small gasp. She felt a strong pressure in the air and froze, watching as the woman slowly made her way in front of Noa, facing the elder.
The woman had long, straight black hair. Her clothes were simple and plain, suited to those you would call village commoners. Her black eyes looked relaxed, but her gaze was sharp. Her posture was upright and her movements precise, with a hint of grace.
Noa had never seen one before, but she had heard of them.
During the war, powerful beings took part in either sides. They looked every bit like a human, but was nothing like them. Referred to as war maidens, they are warrior women that had been blessed with spiritual energy, enabling them to perform superhuman feats and various different powers.
The spiritual energy also stops the maiden from aging, potentially allowing them to never die. Hana may look like a twenty year old woman, but Noa cannot be sure of her true age.
Hana walked towards Noa, her footsteps against the wooden floorboard the only thing that could be heard in the silent room. Her long, flowing sleeves fluttered as she moved, her steps graceful and strong.
Hana then sat down face to face with Noa, gazing into her eyes.
Wordlessly, Hana stretched out her arms as if to receive something, and Noa tensed up. War maidens were known for killing demons, and Noa would rather die before she let Hana do that.
“Be calm. I do not harm humans.”
“Eh?”
Hana's words puzzled Noa.
“Hmm? Explain, Hana.”
The elder seemed just as surprised as Noa, but his expression only changed for a second. He had probably seen and heard many extraordinary things, and it was difficult to surprise him for long.
“Yes. What is the child's name?”
“... Fay.”
Hana nodded, her gaze completely fixed onto Noa.
“Fay is a demon, but she is also human.”
“What do you...?”
Hana raised her hand as if to stop Noa.
“I will explain in simple terms. Please listen.”
Noa nodded and stayed silent.
“This child- Fay. Before she was born, a demon had possessed her, in your womb. When she was born, the demon soul took control of the body over the human soul. That is your demon-child.”
“Two souls...?”
“The demon soul is the dominant one, while the human soul remains dormant inside her.”
“Hmm? If that is so, Hana, might there be-”
“No, elder. It has been too long since the two souls have been in one body. They are inseparable.”
“Mmm... So to destroy the demon soul would mean to destroy the human soul as well?”
“That is correct.”
Noa never thought she would hear about something like this. She should be feeling confused and conflicted, but she felt strangely calm. Her daughter was not one, but two. However, this did not bother her, because-
“Even so, Fay is still my daughter, demon or human. That fact does not change, and neither will my stand.”
The elder frowned.
“Do you think you're in any position to argue with our decisions?”
“...!”
Noa lowered her head. She would bow, but Fay was still sleeping in her lap, and she did not want to wake her. Noa knew she was in no position to argue or bargain, and remained silent.
The elder was conflicted. He had no qualms about letting them stay, but the other villagers might not agree otherwise.
There was a time where in their village, humans and demons worked together to live in harmony. The elder wanted to try bringing back those believes, but it was difficult to sway the hearts of humans.
“Elder, have you heard of the tale about the child who was raised by wolves?”
“Hmm?”
“Hana turned around to face the elder.
“Once, there was a human boy, abandoned by his parents. A baby in the forest, helpless and unable to defend himself. One day, a wolf came by and found the boy. Instead of attacking him, the wolf raised him up.”
Hana paused for a moment before continuing.
“When the boy had grown up, he could not speak human language, nor could he live amongst other humans. Instead, he led a pack of wolves and hunted together with them. They defended their territory fiercely, and ruled the forest.”
Hana paused again for several seconds to let everyone in the room think about her story before continuing.
“A human child raised by wolves will grow up to be a wolf. Likewise, a demon-child raised by a human mother will grow up to be like a human.”
“......”
Save for a few whispers amongst the villagers, the room was silent. The elder closed his eyes as if to consolidate his thoughts.
“And what, may I ask, will happen should the child grow up to become a demon instead?”
“If that is the case, I will destroy her myself.”
Hana turned towards Noa and Fay. Noa could say nothing under her piercing gaze, but she knew that if things turned out that way, she would be powerless to stand up to Hana. Yet, Hana's eyes showed no signs of warning or killing intent. Instead, Noa detected a faint hint of sadness.
Hana's words seemed to have swayed the elder, who sighed and stood up.
“Very well. You two can stay. But Hana, you are to watch the child carefully. Since you spoke for them, you now share the responsibility.”
“Yes, elder.”
Noa stood up with Fay in her hands, and bowed.
“Thank you, elder!”
*
“My, my.”
In front of Noa and Fay was their new home. It was not very big, but her previous house was smaller in comparison, and that had already been plenty for a mother and her child.
However, the house had clearly been abandoned for a long time. As few travelers passed through the village, even lesser had thought of settling down in such a rural area.
The house had everything. The living room was particularly large, along with a kitchen, bathroom, and three small bedrooms.
However, long-term abandonment had caused wear and tear everywhere possible. There were holes in the ceiling with dust everywhere, not to mention the amounts of debris laying all over the place.
The house was also far away from the village center, and the most out of place. In fact, it was located atop a small hill, and Noa could see most of the village from where she stood. Not many villagers would ever have the need to pass by.
“Mmm, this will take quite some time to fix.”
“... Uh...?”
Fay had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.
“Mother?”
Fay looked around, taking in the new environment.
“Where are we?”
Noa gently stroked Fay's hair, a smile on her face.
“This is our new home, Fay.”
Fay stared and the mess of a house for a moment before yawning. At that moment, a small wooden beam fell from the ceiling, crashing into the wooden floorboards and kicking up dust.
Fay giggled.
“Looks weak.”
“Don't you worry, mother will fix it up, and then we can live together in peace again. No more running around, you'd like that, won't you?”
Fay nodded with a big grin on her face and jumped down from her mother's arms. She began running around their new home, the floorboards creaking whenever she took a step.
“Hey now, Fay, be careful!”
Fay giggled but did not stop. She searched every corner of the house, peeking into the rooms and pulling open all the doors. Every time she did so, a cloud of dust would rise up and she would cough, then laugh and run to the next room.
When she was done exploring the inside, Fay ran around outside. The ground was not brown with dirt like she was used to, but full of green grass. Fay saw a broken down shed and ran towards it, finding several different tools needed for farming stored in there. However, they were all rusty.
Fay ran to the back of the house, and saw a huge tree growing in the backyard. Fay hoped that it would bear lots of big fruits so she could pick them.
Occasionally, Fay would see a bug, but she did not mind. When she saw a butterfly, she would try to catch it, but fall and land on the grass. Fay would then laugh and jump up again, continuing her journey around her new home.
“You have a lively child.”
“Hyah!”
Noa, who was watching Fay, jumped a little at the voice behind her. Spinning around quickly, she saw Hana, dressed in the same way as she was before.
“Apologies, I did not mean to startle you.”
“No, it's fine...”
Noa walked to the house and sat down on the porch, then slapped the wooden floor beside her a couple times, beckoning Hana to join her.
The two of them sat in silence for a while as they watched Fay run around, until Noa finally spoke.
“Thank you for your help back there. Fay and I probably would've never been able to stay without your words.”
“......”
“If you don't mind me asking, why did you help us?”
Hana had probably killed many demons in her time. Noa could not imagine why she would choose to help Fay, knowing full well she was a demon.
“The child may be a demon, but there is human in her. As I have said before, I do not harm humans.”
“Oh...”
Of all the times Noa had heard Hana speak, her tone was firm and had little emotion to them. It was no different this time.
“But also...”
“Hmm?”
“I have fought in the war from start to end, and survived. I am tired. All my life I have been fighting. For how long, I do not know. I have put my past behind me, but I do not know how I should live.”
Hana paused, but Noa did not say anything, thinking that she still had more to say.
“Perhaps, I am only looking for a change. My purpose was to fight, but I grow tired of fighting. And yet, fighting is all I know.”
Hana suddenly stood up, and slowly began making her way towards the direction of the village.
“Seeing you and your child has given me some thought. Perhaps now would be a good time for me to seek change.”
“Everyone has their own paths to follow. Some of us might've never been able to choose who we become, but everyone can choose what she becomes.”
Hana said nothing. She reached into her left sleeve and pull out a folding fan. With a quick flick of her wrist, the fan unfolded in an instant. It was a normal paper fan, but Noa thought it suited Hana well.
“I will be leaving now. But I will remember your words, miss...”
Noa stood up and bowed.
“My name is Noa. Fay and I will be in your care from now on.”
“... Noa. I will come visit again soon. There is much I would like to discuss, as well as your child, Fay.”
Before Hana made her way back, Noa stopped her. She had a question that she wanted to ask ever since she met her.
“Wait, Hana! May I call you Hana?”
“If that is what you wish. What is it?”
“... Exactly how old are you?”
“...... Hmph.”
Hana turned away, a slight smile on her face. It was the first time Noa had seen Hana smile. When Hana spoke, her voice was softer, unlike her usual speech devoid of emotion.
“It's rude to ask that of a maiden.”
And with that, Hana left.
“Mother, who was that?”
“Mmm?”
Fay was standing in front of Noa, a questioning expression on her face. Noa picked her up and sat her on her lap, patting her head.
“Just a friend. You'll see her again soon, be sure to introduce yourself properly then, okay?”
“Yeah!”
Soon, the sun would set. Noa and Fay would have to sleep on the floor tonight, and clean up the house the next day. Noa would have to do much around the house, but Fay would help her. Fay knew that there was much to learn, and every single day would be different from what she was used to before. But Fay looked forward to every one of those days.
*
Two days passed since Noa and Fay moved into their new home. It was afternoon and Noa was on the rooftop, hammering away. She spent most of the past two days patching up the ceiling, worrying that the rain may come soon. Fortunately, they were spared with sunny skies.
No rain came, but the wild animals did. None of them came close enough to disturb Noa, as Fay's demonic presence made them wary.
“There we go.”
Having at last finished fixing the rooftop, Noa wiped the sweat off her forehead, sighing in relief. Had it rained before she was finished, the bedrooms would have been flooded, and they would have to sleep on the tables.
Noa slowly made her way across the roof, threading carefully on the wooden boards. The ladder she used was old, but still usable. However, it creaked in a way that worried Noa, and she was glad this would be the last time in a long while that she needed to use it. She would have to get a new one soon.
As Noa neared the edge of the roof, she felt a light breeze across her skin. The fatigue from working all day long was building up, and Noa thought it was time for her to take a break.
“Wha-”
Noa's foot caught on an unaligned plank of wood. She staggered, trying her hardest not to fall, but she could not regain her balance and-
“Waaa-!”
Noa fell from the rooftop, and immediately shut her eyes, bracing for the impact-
“Ha...?!”
Noa never hit the ground. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Hana's face staring at her.
Hana had come out of the house to check up on Noa, and just as she arrived at the porch, she heard and saw Noa slipping on the roof and caught her as she fell.
“Well now, it's not wise to let your guard down at any given moment.”
Noa caught her breath, and sighed in relief.
“You saved me... Thanks.”
As soon as Hana let Noa down, she wandered off to the old shed, and Noa followed.
“I have finished clearing the debris in the house. I will see which tools here are still usable, and separate them from those that can no longer be used.”
“Thanks for helping out again. We're able to finish things quicker now.”
“You do not need to thank me. I am only fulfilling my duty.”
“Your duty is only to watch over Fay, is it not?”
“Yes it is. That also means creating a proper environment for her.”
Noa watched Hana work, and smiled to herself. Hana's hands never stopped working even as she spoke, her eyes focused on her task at hand.
“Where's Fay?”
As though to answer her question, Noa heard loud and quick footsteps from the living room. Fay appeared to be wiping the floor with a towel in both hands, running back and forth across the room. Sometimes she would fall, but quickly stand up again as if it was nothing and continued her work.
“I am finished.”
“Eh? That was fast!”
“It wasn't much to begin with.”
Noa turned back to see that Hana had separated the tools into a wooden crate and a metal bucket. The crate was filled to the brim with rusty metal tools, while the bucket contained a couple of old and dull ones.
“Ah... This might be a problem.”
The house was a little elevated, sitting on top of a low hill. There was a large open field in front of the house, and no one was using it. The villagers did not use coin to purchase and sell goods, but rather they traded their produce with one another, and Noa thought she would try her hand at farming.
She used to grow corn with her father back when she was younger, so she was confident that she could pull it off again. But without proper tools, it would prove difficult to do.
“Mmm, this won't do. I will see if the villagers can spare some of theirs.”
“Eh? Is that okay?”
“No problem. They should be more than willing if I ask.”
“I'm counting on you then.”
Hana nodded and picked up the crate with the rusted tools.
“What do you require?”
“Ah, I'll be needing...”
As Noa listed out the various tools she would need, Fay finished cleaning the floorboards. She stood up and looked around the house, grinning widely. Over the past two days, most of the debris had been cleared away. Fay possessed more strength and endurance than children her age, and sped up the cleaning process. Along with Hana's help, they were finished in no time.
The house was now also free of dust, and with the ceiling fixed, the house began to look much more habitable. However, they did not have much furniture, and the house looked bare.
Fay knew that they would have to make their own cupboards and tables, but that very same thought made her happy.
Fay heard that her mother was going to try growing corn. Fay would have very much preferred meat, but she also wanted to try food that they grew together. She decided that she would help out in the fields as well when the time comes.
Fay went outside to see Hana and her mother talking together.
“... And that's about it.”
“Hana!”
Noa had just finished telling Hana what she needed, when Fay came up from behind and hugged Hana's leg.
Fay was small even for a five-year-old, and Hana was quite tall. Hana would pick her up, but she had her hands full with the crate in her hands.
“Play with me?”
“Not now, child. Perhaps later, after I have delivered the tools.”
“Dinner?”
“...... Considering.”
Noa clapped her hands together.
“That's right, you've never had a meal with us before, have you? Why don't you join us for dinner tonight, as thanks?”
“...... Considering.”
“We're having meat stew with bamboo shoots tonight.”
“Bamboo shoots you say...?”
Noa had discovered that Hana loved bamboo shoots through their frequent idle chatter, and had planned to get her hands on some and invite Hana over. Today was the perfect day to do so.
Hana looked as if she was considering Noa's offer, but Noa guessed she was only pretending to do so. Bamboo shoots were not exactly difficult to come by, but hardly anyone would deny a treat of their favorite food.
“... Alright then.”
“Yay!”
Fay leapt with joy, as this would be the first time that Hana would be staying for dinner. When Hana left for the village, Noa stretched her arms and sighed.
“Shall we stop for today?”
Fay nodded and reached out with her hands. Wordlessly, Noa picked her up and carried her in her arms, where Fay yawned and closed her eyes. Noa brought her to a cushion in the living room and laid Fay down, where she slept soundly. Fay often took naps after finishing her task, and Noa would let her do so. Today was no different.
“Now then, what to do next...”
With Hana's help, the house looked better than before, and there wasn't much to do anymore. But there were still areas that needed to be cleaned and loose floorboards that need replacement in the near future, and so Noa decided to make a mental list of what to do before preparing dinner.
*
“Well then, shall we?”
“Let us eat.”
“Let's!”
Fay, Noa and Hana sat together around the circular table. It was a low table and they did not have chairs, so they sat on the floor instead. At the corner of the living room was a box of new tools, all donated by the villagers Noa had not yet met. They were old tools that no one needed anymore, but Noa was still grateful nonetheless.
A pot of meat stew sat in the middle of the table, along with a few side dishes of fish, green vegetables and bamboo shoots. Fay was a big eater, so Noa made sure to cook extra portions for her. Fay ate the fishes whole, bones and all, her fangs shredding through meat as though it were made of paper.
Noa was worried about what Hana might think, but Hana made no signs that she was alarmed. In fact, she did not seem affected whatsoever.
“How is it?”
Hana chewed on some bamboo shoots and swallowed before replying.
“... It's good.”
“Great, have some more then.”
Hana nodded wordlessly, already consuming half her bowl of rice.
“Fay, have some vegetables too.”
Noa placed a spoonful of vegetables onto Fay's rice bowl. Noa knew Fay did not like green vegetables, but she also knew that she would eat them without complaint.
Fay simply nodded, and continued scarfing down her meal.
“Seconds, please.”
“... Eh?”
Noa had expected Fay to be the one to ask for seconds, but instead, it was Hana who asked first.
“Me too!”
Just as Noa had given Hana a second bowl of rice, it was Fay's turn to request for seconds.
“E- Eh? Ah, okay...”
Hana scarfed down her food just as quickly as Fay did, if not even faster. Not once did Noa imagine that the silent and firm Hana would be such a monstrous eater.
In the end, they were clean out of rice and dishes even before Noa even finished her first bowl. And what Hana had to say was-
“More please.”
“Ahaha... We're all out...”
“Eh, is that so? I could still go for more.”
“Me too.”
Noa sighed. Then laughed out loud. Hana and Fay stared at her, puzzled expressions on their faces.
“What's so funny?”
“Oh...! Oh, it' nothing, really. Just wondering how I'm going to have to feed two monster stomachs everyday from now on.”
“Every... Day?”
Noa could not help but smile.
“Feel free to come have dinner with us anytime you like. I'll make sure to cook lots, so there'll be enough for everyone.”
“......”
“Hana'll come everyday?”
Hana closed her eyes and for the first time, smiled.
“Alright then. Pardon my intrusion.”
“Ahah! Hana smiled! Hana smiled!”
Hana, her face usually devoid of expression, had, for the first time since she could remember, a smile on it.
Noa couldn't help but laugh along with Fay, and soon after, Hana did too. Restrained, but earnestly she did.
*
“Thank you for the tools. With this, I can try my hand at farming.”
“No need for thanks. Dinner was more than enough.”
With a cup of tea in her hands, Hana watched as Noa examined each of the tools the villagers had given to her. They were sitting on the porch, a full moon hanging in the sky. Fay was already fast asleep in her bedroom, peacefully and without a care in the world.
“Still, I didn't think the villagers would be willing to help me out. Perhaps I may be able to trade with them when the time comes too.”
“... Noa.”
“Hmm?”
“The villagers... Are afraid.”
“......”
“They are afraid of the child, and what she might become in the future. Some have asked me to... Take care of her.”
“... I see. Will you...”
“No. Rest assured I will not.”
Noa nodded in relief. Even though Noa and Fay were living by themselves, the reason why they were able to do so was because of the village elder and Hana. The villagers could only feel safe knowing Hana was keeping a close eye on Fay, and Noa found no reason to complain.
“It will be... Difficult for the villagers to be friendly. More so for the child. I will bring you whatever you may need from the village. You only need to ask.”
Noa would have very much preferred to interact with the villagers herself, but it would seem that was too much to ask. Perhaps in the future, the villagers would become more accepting.
“Hana.”
“Hmm?”
“Why do you offer us so much aid? We don't have much we can give to you, you know that. Even then...”
Hana took a sip from her cup.
“I... Do not know. Is there a reason I should have?”
Hana thought for a moment before answering again.
“In that case, food.”
“Food... You say?”
“Yes. I do it for your cooking.”
“For my... Pfft.”
“Hmm?”
Hana herself did not know the reason for why so was so willing to help Fay and Noa. But Noa understood a little. Hana may be much older than her appearance would suggest otherwise, and possess more knowledge than Noa, but her mentality was simple and straightforward. She was earnest and trustworthy, and Noa couldn't help placing her faith in Hana.
“What is it?”
“Oh-! It's, it's nothing.”
“Is that so? You appear to be shedding tears.”
Noa hastily wiped the tears off her eyes.
“Of happiness, that is.”
Noa decided there and then.
“Hana, where do you live?”
“A hut in the village. But I am only home to sleep. I do not use it for any other purpose.”
“In that case, do you want to come stay with Fay and I?”
“Stay with... You mean to live in this house?”
Noa nodded, awaiting Hana's reply silently.
Hana's did not have a purpose. Everyday she would patrol around the village, a habit from during the war she found difficult to shake off. Her house was bare, and the only reason she stayed there was so she had a roof over her head when she slept. There was no reason for her to stay there, where she had no purpose. But here, she might be able to find one.
“I have nothing to take along with me. All I need, I have with me.”
“Does that mean...?”
Hana smiled.
“Yes, why not.”
That night marked the day where the three would live together, work together, and play together. This, is the story of when the demon child and her human mother met the maiden in search of her purpose, and their life thereafter.
Fay was born with red eyes. The hair on her head was pure white, making her stand out among the rest of the village children. Fay was a little different, but no one thought anymore than that.
However when Fay was five years old, her ears grew longer and her teeth lengthened like fangs. Fay was not a human child, but a demon. Humans and demons did not get along well, and in most places strife between the two races are not uncommon.
Fay's mother was called Noa. Even though Fay was born a demon, Noa still loved her as her daughter. Fay never knew her father, for he died a few months before she was born from an illness.
Fearing a drastic reaction from the villagers upon discovering Fay's true nature, Noa decided to leave the village and seek a new place to live in, one that would at least tolerate Fay's existence.
It was a silent farewell. Noa brought along whatever she could carry and together with Fay, they left their old house at the break of dawn.
Sometimes, they would travel on foot. Other times they would be lucky enough to find a carriage. Noa made sure to hide Fay's ears under a hooded cloak, but none of the coachmen cared enough to even check.
Noa had led a frugal and simple life, and never needed to spend any money on clothing as long as she had a bit of fabric and her sewing needle. But her savings had began dwindling long ago, and all she had left was a small portion of it.
Several days passed before Noa and Fay arrived in a small, secluded village. Noa had heard rumors that before the war, humans and demons managed to coexist in certain villages.
Secluded and uncommon, but they existed. This was one of them, and as Noa approached one of the villagers at the outskirts of the village, she hoped that the custom had not been broken. As long as they could stay, Noa did not mind even if they had to live in an abandoned house.
“We do have a place just like that, but...”
The middle-aged farmer scratched the back of his head, glancing at the child in the mother's arms. His eyes narrowed as he noticed her strange appearance, turning back to Noa in uncertainty. The child looked no more than five years old, but there was no mistaking the demonic traits she had. But under those traits was a face showing signs of prolonged fatigue.
Sensing the farmer's uncertainty, Noa took a deep breath and mustered her courage.
“My daughter is a demon.”
In order to live together with as little problems as possible, Noa had decided against hiding the truth. Of all the places they have passed through, none of them would accept a demon living amongst them. In some cases, they were chased out without hesitation.
Many years ago, a war broke out between the humanoids and demons. The humanoids prevailed in the end, but many were left bitter with the deaths of their loved ones and families. Along with the growing bitterness in their hearts, their unwillingness to co-exist with their past invaders grew as well. In time, demons gradually disappeared into hiding, even the harmless ones.
Demons were no longer hunted, but neither were they accepted into normal society.
The farmer remained silent. He had guessed Fay's true nature when he saw her, but Noa's words confirmed his suspicions.
Noa waited patiently for the farmer to speak. If they were denied entrance, they would once again have depart. However Fay was already tired out from their nomadic lifestyle, with Noa's savings dwindling with each departure. She was unsure of how long they would last.
When the farmer finally opened his mouth to speak, Noa braced herself for the inevitable.
“Please wait a moment. Stay around here, but do not enter.”
The farmer turned away from Noa and ran into the village.
Noa, who expected the farmer to say no, stood surprised. He did not agree, but he did not decline either. As long as there was a chance, she would not give up hope.
With Fay asleep in Noa's arms, she paced around the outskirts of the village until the farmer returned moments later.
“The elder wants to see you. Follow me.”
Noa had expected this. As she followed the farmer into the village, she prayed that the elder would be understanding.
*
Noa was in the village elder's house. She sat on a cushion placed on the carpeted floor, with Fay still fast asleep in her lap. Other than the elder and a handful of villagers with them, Noa was surprised there were no armed guards in the room. Holding Fay firmly in her arms, Noa waited for the elder to speak.
“I have heard you are seeking residence in our village, yes?”
“Yes, elder.”
Ever since the war ravaged our village, we have not seen a single demon. Until you came along.”
Noa felt a twinge of despair. She had thought a village that once accepted demons might do the same even after the war. But if what the elder said was true, then that was not the case. Moreover, if they had been attacked before...
“We enjoy peace, and dislike trouble. We will not shun you away, but you are not exactly welcome here either. If it were only you, however...”
Noa's lips trembled as she began to speak. She had heard this many times before, to abandon her daughter or dispose of her to be granted entry, to which her reply was always the same.
“My daughter is everything to me. I will not leave her.”
“Your daughter is a demon.”
“......”
There was nothing Noa could say. Fay was a demon, she could not deny that.
“My daughter may be a demon... But she has never harmed anyon in her life.”
The elder sighed.
“Hana, what do you think?”
A young woman stood up from the corner of the room house. The moment she took a step forwards, Noa let out a small gasp. She felt a strong pressure in the air and froze, watching as the woman slowly made her way in front of Noa, facing the elder.
The woman had long, straight black hair. Her clothes were simple and plain, suited to those you would call village commoners. Her black eyes looked relaxed, but her gaze was sharp. Her posture was upright and her movements precise, with a hint of grace.
Noa had never seen one before, but she had heard of them.
During the war, powerful beings took part in either sides. They looked every bit like a human, but was nothing like them. Referred to as war maidens, they are warrior women that had been blessed with spiritual energy, enabling them to perform superhuman feats and various different powers.
The spiritual energy also stops the maiden from aging, potentially allowing them to never die. Hana may look like a twenty year old woman, but Noa cannot be sure of her true age.
Hana walked towards Noa, her footsteps against the wooden floorboard the only thing that could be heard in the silent room. Her long, flowing sleeves fluttered as she moved, her steps graceful and strong.
Hana then sat down face to face with Noa, gazing into her eyes.
Wordlessly, Hana stretched out her arms as if to receive something, and Noa tensed up. War maidens were known for killing demons, and Noa would rather die before she let Hana do that.
“Be calm. I do not harm humans.”
“Eh?”
Hana's words puzzled Noa.
“Hmm? Explain, Hana.”
The elder seemed just as surprised as Noa, but his expression only changed for a second. He had probably seen and heard many extraordinary things, and it was difficult to surprise him for long.
“Yes. What is the child's name?”
“... Fay.”
Hana nodded, her gaze completely fixed onto Noa.
“Fay is a demon, but she is also human.”
“What do you...?”
Hana raised her hand as if to stop Noa.
“I will explain in simple terms. Please listen.”
Noa nodded and stayed silent.
“This child- Fay. Before she was born, a demon had possessed her, in your womb. When she was born, the demon soul took control of the body over the human soul. That is your demon-child.”
“Two souls...?”
“The demon soul is the dominant one, while the human soul remains dormant inside her.”
“Hmm? If that is so, Hana, might there be-”
“No, elder. It has been too long since the two souls have been in one body. They are inseparable.”
“Mmm... So to destroy the demon soul would mean to destroy the human soul as well?”
“That is correct.”
Noa never thought she would hear about something like this. She should be feeling confused and conflicted, but she felt strangely calm. Her daughter was not one, but two. However, this did not bother her, because-
“Even so, Fay is still my daughter, demon or human. That fact does not change, and neither will my stand.”
The elder frowned.
“Do you think you're in any position to argue with our decisions?”
“...!”
Noa lowered her head. She would bow, but Fay was still sleeping in her lap, and she did not want to wake her. Noa knew she was in no position to argue or bargain, and remained silent.
The elder was conflicted. He had no qualms about letting them stay, but the other villagers might not agree otherwise.
There was a time where in their village, humans and demons worked together to live in harmony. The elder wanted to try bringing back those believes, but it was difficult to sway the hearts of humans.
“Elder, have you heard of the tale about the child who was raised by wolves?”
“Hmm?”
“Hana turned around to face the elder.
“Once, there was a human boy, abandoned by his parents. A baby in the forest, helpless and unable to defend himself. One day, a wolf came by and found the boy. Instead of attacking him, the wolf raised him up.”
Hana paused for a moment before continuing.
“When the boy had grown up, he could not speak human language, nor could he live amongst other humans. Instead, he led a pack of wolves and hunted together with them. They defended their territory fiercely, and ruled the forest.”
Hana paused again for several seconds to let everyone in the room think about her story before continuing.
“A human child raised by wolves will grow up to be a wolf. Likewise, a demon-child raised by a human mother will grow up to be like a human.”
“......”
Save for a few whispers amongst the villagers, the room was silent. The elder closed his eyes as if to consolidate his thoughts.
“And what, may I ask, will happen should the child grow up to become a demon instead?”
“If that is the case, I will destroy her myself.”
Hana turned towards Noa and Fay. Noa could say nothing under her piercing gaze, but she knew that if things turned out that way, she would be powerless to stand up to Hana. Yet, Hana's eyes showed no signs of warning or killing intent. Instead, Noa detected a faint hint of sadness.
Hana's words seemed to have swayed the elder, who sighed and stood up.
“Very well. You two can stay. But Hana, you are to watch the child carefully. Since you spoke for them, you now share the responsibility.”
“Yes, elder.”
Noa stood up with Fay in her hands, and bowed.
“Thank you, elder!”
*
“My, my.”
In front of Noa and Fay was their new home. It was not very big, but her previous house was smaller in comparison, and that had already been plenty for a mother and her child.
However, the house had clearly been abandoned for a long time. As few travelers passed through the village, even lesser had thought of settling down in such a rural area.
The house had everything. The living room was particularly large, along with a kitchen, bathroom, and three small bedrooms.
However, long-term abandonment had caused wear and tear everywhere possible. There were holes in the ceiling with dust everywhere, not to mention the amounts of debris laying all over the place.
The house was also far away from the village center, and the most out of place. In fact, it was located atop a small hill, and Noa could see most of the village from where she stood. Not many villagers would ever have the need to pass by.
“Mmm, this will take quite some time to fix.”
“... Uh...?”
Fay had woken up and was rubbing her eyes.
“Mother?”
Fay looked around, taking in the new environment.
“Where are we?”
Noa gently stroked Fay's hair, a smile on her face.
“This is our new home, Fay.”
Fay stared and the mess of a house for a moment before yawning. At that moment, a small wooden beam fell from the ceiling, crashing into the wooden floorboards and kicking up dust.
Fay giggled.
“Looks weak.”
“Don't you worry, mother will fix it up, and then we can live together in peace again. No more running around, you'd like that, won't you?”
Fay nodded with a big grin on her face and jumped down from her mother's arms. She began running around their new home, the floorboards creaking whenever she took a step.
“Hey now, Fay, be careful!”
Fay giggled but did not stop. She searched every corner of the house, peeking into the rooms and pulling open all the doors. Every time she did so, a cloud of dust would rise up and she would cough, then laugh and run to the next room.
When she was done exploring the inside, Fay ran around outside. The ground was not brown with dirt like she was used to, but full of green grass. Fay saw a broken down shed and ran towards it, finding several different tools needed for farming stored in there. However, they were all rusty.
Fay ran to the back of the house, and saw a huge tree growing in the backyard. Fay hoped that it would bear lots of big fruits so she could pick them.
Occasionally, Fay would see a bug, but she did not mind. When she saw a butterfly, she would try to catch it, but fall and land on the grass. Fay would then laugh and jump up again, continuing her journey around her new home.
“You have a lively child.”
“Hyah!”
Noa, who was watching Fay, jumped a little at the voice behind her. Spinning around quickly, she saw Hana, dressed in the same way as she was before.
“Apologies, I did not mean to startle you.”
“No, it's fine...”
Noa walked to the house and sat down on the porch, then slapped the wooden floor beside her a couple times, beckoning Hana to join her.
The two of them sat in silence for a while as they watched Fay run around, until Noa finally spoke.
“Thank you for your help back there. Fay and I probably would've never been able to stay without your words.”
“......”
“If you don't mind me asking, why did you help us?”
Hana had probably killed many demons in her time. Noa could not imagine why she would choose to help Fay, knowing full well she was a demon.
“The child may be a demon, but there is human in her. As I have said before, I do not harm humans.”
“Oh...”
Of all the times Noa had heard Hana speak, her tone was firm and had little emotion to them. It was no different this time.
“But also...”
“Hmm?”
“I have fought in the war from start to end, and survived. I am tired. All my life I have been fighting. For how long, I do not know. I have put my past behind me, but I do not know how I should live.”
Hana paused, but Noa did not say anything, thinking that she still had more to say.
“Perhaps, I am only looking for a change. My purpose was to fight, but I grow tired of fighting. And yet, fighting is all I know.”
Hana suddenly stood up, and slowly began making her way towards the direction of the village.
“Seeing you and your child has given me some thought. Perhaps now would be a good time for me to seek change.”
“Everyone has their own paths to follow. Some of us might've never been able to choose who we become, but everyone can choose what she becomes.”
Hana said nothing. She reached into her left sleeve and pull out a folding fan. With a quick flick of her wrist, the fan unfolded in an instant. It was a normal paper fan, but Noa thought it suited Hana well.
“I will be leaving now. But I will remember your words, miss...”
Noa stood up and bowed.
“My name is Noa. Fay and I will be in your care from now on.”
“... Noa. I will come visit again soon. There is much I would like to discuss, as well as your child, Fay.”
Before Hana made her way back, Noa stopped her. She had a question that she wanted to ask ever since she met her.
“Wait, Hana! May I call you Hana?”
“If that is what you wish. What is it?”
“... Exactly how old are you?”
“...... Hmph.”
Hana turned away, a slight smile on her face. It was the first time Noa had seen Hana smile. When Hana spoke, her voice was softer, unlike her usual speech devoid of emotion.
“It's rude to ask that of a maiden.”
And with that, Hana left.
“Mother, who was that?”
“Mmm?”
Fay was standing in front of Noa, a questioning expression on her face. Noa picked her up and sat her on her lap, patting her head.
“Just a friend. You'll see her again soon, be sure to introduce yourself properly then, okay?”
“Yeah!”
Soon, the sun would set. Noa and Fay would have to sleep on the floor tonight, and clean up the house the next day. Noa would have to do much around the house, but Fay would help her. Fay knew that there was much to learn, and every single day would be different from what she was used to before. But Fay looked forward to every one of those days.
*
Two days passed since Noa and Fay moved into their new home. It was afternoon and Noa was on the rooftop, hammering away. She spent most of the past two days patching up the ceiling, worrying that the rain may come soon. Fortunately, they were spared with sunny skies.
No rain came, but the wild animals did. None of them came close enough to disturb Noa, as Fay's demonic presence made them wary.
“There we go.”
Having at last finished fixing the rooftop, Noa wiped the sweat off her forehead, sighing in relief. Had it rained before she was finished, the bedrooms would have been flooded, and they would have to sleep on the tables.
Noa slowly made her way across the roof, threading carefully on the wooden boards. The ladder she used was old, but still usable. However, it creaked in a way that worried Noa, and she was glad this would be the last time in a long while that she needed to use it. She would have to get a new one soon.
As Noa neared the edge of the roof, she felt a light breeze across her skin. The fatigue from working all day long was building up, and Noa thought it was time for her to take a break.
“Wha-”
Noa's foot caught on an unaligned plank of wood. She staggered, trying her hardest not to fall, but she could not regain her balance and-
“Waaa-!”
Noa fell from the rooftop, and immediately shut her eyes, bracing for the impact-
“Ha...?!”
Noa never hit the ground. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Hana's face staring at her.
Hana had come out of the house to check up on Noa, and just as she arrived at the porch, she heard and saw Noa slipping on the roof and caught her as she fell.
“Well now, it's not wise to let your guard down at any given moment.”
Noa caught her breath, and sighed in relief.
“You saved me... Thanks.”
As soon as Hana let Noa down, she wandered off to the old shed, and Noa followed.
“I have finished clearing the debris in the house. I will see which tools here are still usable, and separate them from those that can no longer be used.”
“Thanks for helping out again. We're able to finish things quicker now.”
“You do not need to thank me. I am only fulfilling my duty.”
“Your duty is only to watch over Fay, is it not?”
“Yes it is. That also means creating a proper environment for her.”
Noa watched Hana work, and smiled to herself. Hana's hands never stopped working even as she spoke, her eyes focused on her task at hand.
“Where's Fay?”
As though to answer her question, Noa heard loud and quick footsteps from the living room. Fay appeared to be wiping the floor with a towel in both hands, running back and forth across the room. Sometimes she would fall, but quickly stand up again as if it was nothing and continued her work.
“I am finished.”
“Eh? That was fast!”
“It wasn't much to begin with.”
Noa turned back to see that Hana had separated the tools into a wooden crate and a metal bucket. The crate was filled to the brim with rusty metal tools, while the bucket contained a couple of old and dull ones.
“Ah... This might be a problem.”
The house was a little elevated, sitting on top of a low hill. There was a large open field in front of the house, and no one was using it. The villagers did not use coin to purchase and sell goods, but rather they traded their produce with one another, and Noa thought she would try her hand at farming.
She used to grow corn with her father back when she was younger, so she was confident that she could pull it off again. But without proper tools, it would prove difficult to do.
“Mmm, this won't do. I will see if the villagers can spare some of theirs.”
“Eh? Is that okay?”
“No problem. They should be more than willing if I ask.”
“I'm counting on you then.”
Hana nodded and picked up the crate with the rusted tools.
“What do you require?”
“Ah, I'll be needing...”
As Noa listed out the various tools she would need, Fay finished cleaning the floorboards. She stood up and looked around the house, grinning widely. Over the past two days, most of the debris had been cleared away. Fay possessed more strength and endurance than children her age, and sped up the cleaning process. Along with Hana's help, they were finished in no time.
The house was now also free of dust, and with the ceiling fixed, the house began to look much more habitable. However, they did not have much furniture, and the house looked bare.
Fay knew that they would have to make their own cupboards and tables, but that very same thought made her happy.
Fay heard that her mother was going to try growing corn. Fay would have very much preferred meat, but she also wanted to try food that they grew together. She decided that she would help out in the fields as well when the time comes.
Fay went outside to see Hana and her mother talking together.
“... And that's about it.”
“Hana!”
Noa had just finished telling Hana what she needed, when Fay came up from behind and hugged Hana's leg.
Fay was small even for a five-year-old, and Hana was quite tall. Hana would pick her up, but she had her hands full with the crate in her hands.
“Play with me?”
“Not now, child. Perhaps later, after I have delivered the tools.”
“Dinner?”
“...... Considering.”
Noa clapped her hands together.
“That's right, you've never had a meal with us before, have you? Why don't you join us for dinner tonight, as thanks?”
“...... Considering.”
“We're having meat stew with bamboo shoots tonight.”
“Bamboo shoots you say...?”
Noa had discovered that Hana loved bamboo shoots through their frequent idle chatter, and had planned to get her hands on some and invite Hana over. Today was the perfect day to do so.
Hana looked as if she was considering Noa's offer, but Noa guessed she was only pretending to do so. Bamboo shoots were not exactly difficult to come by, but hardly anyone would deny a treat of their favorite food.
“... Alright then.”
“Yay!”
Fay leapt with joy, as this would be the first time that Hana would be staying for dinner. When Hana left for the village, Noa stretched her arms and sighed.
“Shall we stop for today?”
Fay nodded and reached out with her hands. Wordlessly, Noa picked her up and carried her in her arms, where Fay yawned and closed her eyes. Noa brought her to a cushion in the living room and laid Fay down, where she slept soundly. Fay often took naps after finishing her task, and Noa would let her do so. Today was no different.
“Now then, what to do next...”
With Hana's help, the house looked better than before, and there wasn't much to do anymore. But there were still areas that needed to be cleaned and loose floorboards that need replacement in the near future, and so Noa decided to make a mental list of what to do before preparing dinner.
*
“Well then, shall we?”
“Let us eat.”
“Let's!”
Fay, Noa and Hana sat together around the circular table. It was a low table and they did not have chairs, so they sat on the floor instead. At the corner of the living room was a box of new tools, all donated by the villagers Noa had not yet met. They were old tools that no one needed anymore, but Noa was still grateful nonetheless.
A pot of meat stew sat in the middle of the table, along with a few side dishes of fish, green vegetables and bamboo shoots. Fay was a big eater, so Noa made sure to cook extra portions for her. Fay ate the fishes whole, bones and all, her fangs shredding through meat as though it were made of paper.
Noa was worried about what Hana might think, but Hana made no signs that she was alarmed. In fact, she did not seem affected whatsoever.
“How is it?”
Hana chewed on some bamboo shoots and swallowed before replying.
“... It's good.”
“Great, have some more then.”
Hana nodded wordlessly, already consuming half her bowl of rice.
“Fay, have some vegetables too.”
Noa placed a spoonful of vegetables onto Fay's rice bowl. Noa knew Fay did not like green vegetables, but she also knew that she would eat them without complaint.
Fay simply nodded, and continued scarfing down her meal.
“Seconds, please.”
“... Eh?”
Noa had expected Fay to be the one to ask for seconds, but instead, it was Hana who asked first.
“Me too!”
Just as Noa had given Hana a second bowl of rice, it was Fay's turn to request for seconds.
“E- Eh? Ah, okay...”
Hana scarfed down her food just as quickly as Fay did, if not even faster. Not once did Noa imagine that the silent and firm Hana would be such a monstrous eater.
In the end, they were clean out of rice and dishes even before Noa even finished her first bowl. And what Hana had to say was-
“More please.”
“Ahaha... We're all out...”
“Eh, is that so? I could still go for more.”
“Me too.”
Noa sighed. Then laughed out loud. Hana and Fay stared at her, puzzled expressions on their faces.
“What's so funny?”
“Oh...! Oh, it' nothing, really. Just wondering how I'm going to have to feed two monster stomachs everyday from now on.”
“Every... Day?”
Noa could not help but smile.
“Feel free to come have dinner with us anytime you like. I'll make sure to cook lots, so there'll be enough for everyone.”
“......”
“Hana'll come everyday?”
Hana closed her eyes and for the first time, smiled.
“Alright then. Pardon my intrusion.”
“Ahah! Hana smiled! Hana smiled!”
Hana, her face usually devoid of expression, had, for the first time since she could remember, a smile on it.
Noa couldn't help but laugh along with Fay, and soon after, Hana did too. Restrained, but earnestly she did.
*
“Thank you for the tools. With this, I can try my hand at farming.”
“No need for thanks. Dinner was more than enough.”
With a cup of tea in her hands, Hana watched as Noa examined each of the tools the villagers had given to her. They were sitting on the porch, a full moon hanging in the sky. Fay was already fast asleep in her bedroom, peacefully and without a care in the world.
“Still, I didn't think the villagers would be willing to help me out. Perhaps I may be able to trade with them when the time comes too.”
“... Noa.”
“Hmm?”
“The villagers... Are afraid.”
“......”
“They are afraid of the child, and what she might become in the future. Some have asked me to... Take care of her.”
“... I see. Will you...”
“No. Rest assured I will not.”
Noa nodded in relief. Even though Noa and Fay were living by themselves, the reason why they were able to do so was because of the village elder and Hana. The villagers could only feel safe knowing Hana was keeping a close eye on Fay, and Noa found no reason to complain.
“It will be... Difficult for the villagers to be friendly. More so for the child. I will bring you whatever you may need from the village. You only need to ask.”
Noa would have very much preferred to interact with the villagers herself, but it would seem that was too much to ask. Perhaps in the future, the villagers would become more accepting.
“Hana.”
“Hmm?”
“Why do you offer us so much aid? We don't have much we can give to you, you know that. Even then...”
Hana took a sip from her cup.
“I... Do not know. Is there a reason I should have?”
Hana thought for a moment before answering again.
“In that case, food.”
“Food... You say?”
“Yes. I do it for your cooking.”
“For my... Pfft.”
“Hmm?”
Hana herself did not know the reason for why so was so willing to help Fay and Noa. But Noa understood a little. Hana may be much older than her appearance would suggest otherwise, and possess more knowledge than Noa, but her mentality was simple and straightforward. She was earnest and trustworthy, and Noa couldn't help placing her faith in Hana.
“What is it?”
“Oh-! It's, it's nothing.”
“Is that so? You appear to be shedding tears.”
Noa hastily wiped the tears off her eyes.
“Of happiness, that is.”
Noa decided there and then.
“Hana, where do you live?”
“A hut in the village. But I am only home to sleep. I do not use it for any other purpose.”
“In that case, do you want to come stay with Fay and I?”
“Stay with... You mean to live in this house?”
Noa nodded, awaiting Hana's reply silently.
Hana's did not have a purpose. Everyday she would patrol around the village, a habit from during the war she found difficult to shake off. Her house was bare, and the only reason she stayed there was so she had a roof over her head when she slept. There was no reason for her to stay there, where she had no purpose. But here, she might be able to find one.
“I have nothing to take along with me. All I need, I have with me.”
“Does that mean...?”
Hana smiled.
“Yes, why not.”
That night marked the day where the three would live together, work together, and play together. This, is the story of when the demon child and her human mother met the maiden in search of her purpose, and their life thereafter.
Spoiler! :
366 – Summer
“Again.”
When children turned seven in the village, they were allowed to attend school. When Fay was seven, she was forbidden from going to school like the other village children. For fear that she might attack them, their parents told stories of how demons would attack disobedient children, and warned them to stay away from the demon child.
“Again.”
Fay could not attend school, but Hana was her teacher. She took over Noa's role of teaching Fay how to read and write, and while Fay did not understand why she would need books to survive when she grew up, she obeyed nonetheless.
Throughout Hana's long life, she had never needed to do things like teach and take care of children. All she needed to know was how to fight, and while she did so, accumulated vast amounts of knowledge about everything. It was a little awkward at first but after two years of being Fay's teacher, Hana had grown used to her position.
Occasionally Hana would go to the village and return with a stack of books, and Fay would have to read them all. Today was no different.
It was morning. Fay had been reading out loud for the past hour now, and she was getting tired. She could run around the forest for hours, but sitting at the table for over an hour was definitely not her forte.
Hana knew of Fay's inability to sit still for long, and so she would only hold lessons for a short period of time everyday. It was not the duration of the lesson that mattered, but how much of it Fay remembered.
When Hana closed the book in her hands, Fay knew the lesson was over, and fell backwards onto the wooden floor.
“We'll stop here for today.”
“Ahh...”
Fay stared at the wooden ceiling for a while, focusing on the lesson she just had. Hana taught her to recap at the end of every session, as well as before she turned in for the night, so that it will stay in her memories for much longer than if she did not. This method worked well, and with Fay's knack for quick learning, she caught up with the village children in no time.
Fay blinked a couple times, then sat up straight.
“I'll go help mother in the fields.”
Without waiting for a reply, Fay stood up and ran out of the house. Hana slowly followed behind, and by the time she arrived at the corn fields Fay was already busy pulling out the harvest.
Hana watched as Noa and Fay worked together. She would help, but she had her own task to carry out.
Beside the corn fields was another, much smaller one, which grew bamboo plants. It was almost time to harvest the shoots, and Hana had been watching and waiting for the perfect moment.
“Hmm hmm...”
Upon Hana's inspection, it would seem that now was still not the time for a perfect harvest.
Hana sighed. She wanted to harvest them right there and then and she could, but that would mean missing the perfect harvest. As a self-proclaimed gourmet of bamboo shoots, Hana will only accept the best of the best, and nothing else-
“Hana, we'll be inside. Come join us when you're done.”
Hana had been so focused she did not notice Noa and Fay leaving.
“Alright.”
Hana left the fields, hoping to get a perfect harvest the next day.
“Grr...”
“Hmm?”
Hana had lived in the village long enough to be able to recognize the different animals that wandered the forest. But the growling did not come from any predators she knew of.
Fay had dropped her basketful of corn and was on all fours, fangs bared and eyes glowing red. She glared at a small, white rabbit in the grass, which stood petrified by Fay's piercing gaze. As she grew older, Fay felt the urge for more meat. However, she did not want the stew her mother made. It was delicious, but Fay wanted game meat. She wanted to hunt, and that desire came out all at once today.
The moment the rabbit tried to escape back into the forest, Fay gave chase. With a burst of speed, both the rabbit and Fay had disappeared into the forest.
Hana too, started to follow, but Noa stopped her.
“Hana, wait.”
“... Noa.”
“Let her be.”
“What are you-”
“Please. Let her be.”
Hana gritted her teeth. She did not understand why. Fay had started to develop predatory instincts, and yet Noa was not in the least bit worried at all.
Fay had only recently began hunting. Every time she did so, her desire would fade away for about a month before she felt the need to hunt again, and today was that day. Her targets have always been small animals, but Hana grew worried about what she would be hunting in the future.
Demons usually hunted from the very start of their lives, and more often than naught, their prey were bigger and stronger than they were themselves. Fay was different, having been brought up the exact same way a normal human child would, but Hana had no idea how long that would last.
“Do you understand what is happening? If you let her do this, her desire will grow stronger every time. There is no telling what, or who she may hunt in the future!”
Noa only smiled back, which aggravated Hana.
“Please, leave her be. Fay is not a monster, nor will she become one. I did not raise her to act like one, nor did you. Have trust.”
“Even so...!”
Seeing the look on Noa's face, Hana could not bring herself to say anything more. She was frustrated, angry that she, who had lived for generations, could not understand the mindset of a mother much younger than she was.
“Suit yourself.”
Hana picked up the fallen corn and placed them into the basket, then immediately made for the kitchen. At the end of every harvest, Hana would wash the corn and bring then to the village to trade. She needed some time alone, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
Noa sat by the porch, waiting for Fay to return. As she waited, Hana appeared from the house, carrying the corn basket on her back.
“I'm going.”
“Alright. Please be careful.”
Hana nodded and made her way down the hill, into the village. She would not be back until dusk, and so Noa had prepared lunch for her in a wooden box. It was a routine that they had been through many times, and Hana had already gotten used to it.
Noa not only grew corn, but also sewed clothes. Unfortunately she was unable to finish the new batch in time, and only had corn to trade with today. Noa also made new clothing for Fay and Hana. Every year during Fay's birthday, Noa would make a new set of clothes for Fay as a present.
Since Fay was always running around, she often got dirty, and so Noa would make her clothes more durable. Noa wondered about the next set of clothing he should make, when-
“Mother...”
Fay and returned from the forest, dirt and mud on her shoes and a few light bruises on her arm. There was blood on her clothes as well and on her face. The area around her mouth was stained in red, and so were her fangs. Fay had both hands on her stomach, and hunched forwards when she walked.
“Fay, what's wrong?”
“Uuu... Tummy ache...”
“My, my.”
Noa reached out towards Fay, who jumped into her arms.
“Tummy hurts...”
“There, there.”
Noa carried the weeping Fay in her arms, and together they went back into the house. While Noa applied the medicine on Fay's stomach, Fay shut her eyes and endured the pain. After she was finish, she wiped Fay's face clean with a cloth.
Every time Fay hunted, she would return home with a stomach ache. She was still not used to raw meat, and while she felt nothing when her predatory senses were at work, she would return to normal when her desire was sated.
“The pain will be all over soon. Just rest for today, mother will take care of the rest.”
Fay nodded and stretched out her arms. She had done this so many times that Noa knew immediately what she wanted. Picking her up once more, Noa hugged Fay and slowly patted her on her back. Slowly, Fay's sniffles subsided and she quietened down. The medicine was starting to take effect as well, and Fay soon fell fast asleep.
Noa let her do so, and tucked her into bed. While Fay slept, Noa watched over her with sewing needle and cloth in hand, and she worked till dusk.
*
When Hana returned, the sun had already began to set. She carried with her varying amounts of meat, potatoes and fishes, all traded for with the corn she brought. She would have gotten a lot more had they more to trade with, but it could not be helped hat the clothes were unfinished. As Hana placed the basket by the kitchen table, she saw Noa sitting by Fay's bed, her adept fingers working on a piece of fabric.
Hana stepped lightly, not wanting to disrupt her work, but Noa heard her nonetheless.
“Ah, Hana. Welcome back.”
“...... Yeah.”
Noa had the usual smile on her face, as if everything that happened earlier that day was nothing.
“How is she?”
“Fay? She's sound asleep now. I guess raw meat doesn't suit her well after all.”
Noa laughed a little as if it was a light matter, but Hana knew better. It was a sign that Fay was changing, and it could potentially become a problem. Fay's environment significantly slowed down her demonic evolution, but it did not stop. Slowly but surely, Fay will change, and when that time comes, Hana will...
“Hana...?”
Fay had woken up and was sitting upright. Noticing Hana's return, she waved with both her arms, a smile on her face.
Hana walked over towards her bed and sat down beside Noa.
“Hey there. How are you feeling?”
“All better now!”
Fay waved her arms around as if to show that she had recovered.
“Good, good.”
Hana smiled and patted Fay on her head. But inside, Hana felt conflicted. Her task was to watch over Fay, and in the event that something were to happen, take care of it herself. But after living with her for so long, she did not know if she could perform her task should the time come.
“Well then, it's getting dark, shall we have dinner soon?”
“Yeah!”
“...... Alright.”
At the mention of dinner, Hana wavered. She had lived alone for longer than she could remember, but ever since she began living with Noa and Fay, she had grown attached to the meals they had together and their company.
Hana did not understand the word 'family'. She did not know her parents, nor her relatives. She could hardly remember her life up to the point she became a war maiden, but she knew the meaning of family, and felt that right now she was part of one.
But she did not say it, for it would be embarrassing for her. Instead, she kept the thought close to her heart. It was then that Hana decided to experience life together with her family. She would live as well as she can. Whatever that may come in the future, Hana would take care of it. But for now, all she wanted was to enjoy the days of peace together with Noa and Fay.
That night, Hana ate heartily, and any doubts that she had before were put behind.
“Again.”
When children turned seven in the village, they were allowed to attend school. When Fay was seven, she was forbidden from going to school like the other village children. For fear that she might attack them, their parents told stories of how demons would attack disobedient children, and warned them to stay away from the demon child.
“Again.”
Fay could not attend school, but Hana was her teacher. She took over Noa's role of teaching Fay how to read and write, and while Fay did not understand why she would need books to survive when she grew up, she obeyed nonetheless.
Throughout Hana's long life, she had never needed to do things like teach and take care of children. All she needed to know was how to fight, and while she did so, accumulated vast amounts of knowledge about everything. It was a little awkward at first but after two years of being Fay's teacher, Hana had grown used to her position.
Occasionally Hana would go to the village and return with a stack of books, and Fay would have to read them all. Today was no different.
It was morning. Fay had been reading out loud for the past hour now, and she was getting tired. She could run around the forest for hours, but sitting at the table for over an hour was definitely not her forte.
Hana knew of Fay's inability to sit still for long, and so she would only hold lessons for a short period of time everyday. It was not the duration of the lesson that mattered, but how much of it Fay remembered.
When Hana closed the book in her hands, Fay knew the lesson was over, and fell backwards onto the wooden floor.
“We'll stop here for today.”
“Ahh...”
Fay stared at the wooden ceiling for a while, focusing on the lesson she just had. Hana taught her to recap at the end of every session, as well as before she turned in for the night, so that it will stay in her memories for much longer than if she did not. This method worked well, and with Fay's knack for quick learning, she caught up with the village children in no time.
Fay blinked a couple times, then sat up straight.
“I'll go help mother in the fields.”
Without waiting for a reply, Fay stood up and ran out of the house. Hana slowly followed behind, and by the time she arrived at the corn fields Fay was already busy pulling out the harvest.
Hana watched as Noa and Fay worked together. She would help, but she had her own task to carry out.
Beside the corn fields was another, much smaller one, which grew bamboo plants. It was almost time to harvest the shoots, and Hana had been watching and waiting for the perfect moment.
“Hmm hmm...”
Upon Hana's inspection, it would seem that now was still not the time for a perfect harvest.
Hana sighed. She wanted to harvest them right there and then and she could, but that would mean missing the perfect harvest. As a self-proclaimed gourmet of bamboo shoots, Hana will only accept the best of the best, and nothing else-
“Hana, we'll be inside. Come join us when you're done.”
Hana had been so focused she did not notice Noa and Fay leaving.
“Alright.”
Hana left the fields, hoping to get a perfect harvest the next day.
“Grr...”
“Hmm?”
Hana had lived in the village long enough to be able to recognize the different animals that wandered the forest. But the growling did not come from any predators she knew of.
Fay had dropped her basketful of corn and was on all fours, fangs bared and eyes glowing red. She glared at a small, white rabbit in the grass, which stood petrified by Fay's piercing gaze. As she grew older, Fay felt the urge for more meat. However, she did not want the stew her mother made. It was delicious, but Fay wanted game meat. She wanted to hunt, and that desire came out all at once today.
The moment the rabbit tried to escape back into the forest, Fay gave chase. With a burst of speed, both the rabbit and Fay had disappeared into the forest.
Hana too, started to follow, but Noa stopped her.
“Hana, wait.”
“... Noa.”
“Let her be.”
“What are you-”
“Please. Let her be.”
Hana gritted her teeth. She did not understand why. Fay had started to develop predatory instincts, and yet Noa was not in the least bit worried at all.
Fay had only recently began hunting. Every time she did so, her desire would fade away for about a month before she felt the need to hunt again, and today was that day. Her targets have always been small animals, but Hana grew worried about what she would be hunting in the future.
Demons usually hunted from the very start of their lives, and more often than naught, their prey were bigger and stronger than they were themselves. Fay was different, having been brought up the exact same way a normal human child would, but Hana had no idea how long that would last.
“Do you understand what is happening? If you let her do this, her desire will grow stronger every time. There is no telling what, or who she may hunt in the future!”
Noa only smiled back, which aggravated Hana.
“Please, leave her be. Fay is not a monster, nor will she become one. I did not raise her to act like one, nor did you. Have trust.”
“Even so...!”
Seeing the look on Noa's face, Hana could not bring herself to say anything more. She was frustrated, angry that she, who had lived for generations, could not understand the mindset of a mother much younger than she was.
“Suit yourself.”
Hana picked up the fallen corn and placed them into the basket, then immediately made for the kitchen. At the end of every harvest, Hana would wash the corn and bring then to the village to trade. She needed some time alone, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
Noa sat by the porch, waiting for Fay to return. As she waited, Hana appeared from the house, carrying the corn basket on her back.
“I'm going.”
“Alright. Please be careful.”
Hana nodded and made her way down the hill, into the village. She would not be back until dusk, and so Noa had prepared lunch for her in a wooden box. It was a routine that they had been through many times, and Hana had already gotten used to it.
Noa not only grew corn, but also sewed clothes. Unfortunately she was unable to finish the new batch in time, and only had corn to trade with today. Noa also made new clothing for Fay and Hana. Every year during Fay's birthday, Noa would make a new set of clothes for Fay as a present.
Since Fay was always running around, she often got dirty, and so Noa would make her clothes more durable. Noa wondered about the next set of clothing he should make, when-
“Mother...”
Fay and returned from the forest, dirt and mud on her shoes and a few light bruises on her arm. There was blood on her clothes as well and on her face. The area around her mouth was stained in red, and so were her fangs. Fay had both hands on her stomach, and hunched forwards when she walked.
“Fay, what's wrong?”
“Uuu... Tummy ache...”
“My, my.”
Noa reached out towards Fay, who jumped into her arms.
“Tummy hurts...”
“There, there.”
Noa carried the weeping Fay in her arms, and together they went back into the house. While Noa applied the medicine on Fay's stomach, Fay shut her eyes and endured the pain. After she was finish, she wiped Fay's face clean with a cloth.
Every time Fay hunted, she would return home with a stomach ache. She was still not used to raw meat, and while she felt nothing when her predatory senses were at work, she would return to normal when her desire was sated.
“The pain will be all over soon. Just rest for today, mother will take care of the rest.”
Fay nodded and stretched out her arms. She had done this so many times that Noa knew immediately what she wanted. Picking her up once more, Noa hugged Fay and slowly patted her on her back. Slowly, Fay's sniffles subsided and she quietened down. The medicine was starting to take effect as well, and Fay soon fell fast asleep.
Noa let her do so, and tucked her into bed. While Fay slept, Noa watched over her with sewing needle and cloth in hand, and she worked till dusk.
*
When Hana returned, the sun had already began to set. She carried with her varying amounts of meat, potatoes and fishes, all traded for with the corn she brought. She would have gotten a lot more had they more to trade with, but it could not be helped hat the clothes were unfinished. As Hana placed the basket by the kitchen table, she saw Noa sitting by Fay's bed, her adept fingers working on a piece of fabric.
Hana stepped lightly, not wanting to disrupt her work, but Noa heard her nonetheless.
“Ah, Hana. Welcome back.”
“...... Yeah.”
Noa had the usual smile on her face, as if everything that happened earlier that day was nothing.
“How is she?”
“Fay? She's sound asleep now. I guess raw meat doesn't suit her well after all.”
Noa laughed a little as if it was a light matter, but Hana knew better. It was a sign that Fay was changing, and it could potentially become a problem. Fay's environment significantly slowed down her demonic evolution, but it did not stop. Slowly but surely, Fay will change, and when that time comes, Hana will...
“Hana...?”
Fay had woken up and was sitting upright. Noticing Hana's return, she waved with both her arms, a smile on her face.
Hana walked over towards her bed and sat down beside Noa.
“Hey there. How are you feeling?”
“All better now!”
Fay waved her arms around as if to show that she had recovered.
“Good, good.”
Hana smiled and patted Fay on her head. But inside, Hana felt conflicted. Her task was to watch over Fay, and in the event that something were to happen, take care of it herself. But after living with her for so long, she did not know if she could perform her task should the time come.
“Well then, it's getting dark, shall we have dinner soon?”
“Yeah!”
“...... Alright.”
At the mention of dinner, Hana wavered. She had lived alone for longer than she could remember, but ever since she began living with Noa and Fay, she had grown attached to the meals they had together and their company.
Hana did not understand the word 'family'. She did not know her parents, nor her relatives. She could hardly remember her life up to the point she became a war maiden, but she knew the meaning of family, and felt that right now she was part of one.
But she did not say it, for it would be embarrassing for her. Instead, she kept the thought close to her heart. It was then that Hana decided to experience life together with her family. She would live as well as she can. Whatever that may come in the future, Hana would take care of it. But for now, all she wanted was to enjoy the days of peace together with Noa and Fay.
That night, Hana ate heartily, and any doubts that she had before were put behind.